[sci.bio] Ethology as science

gheller@YODA.EECS.WSU.EDU (Geoffrey Heller - CS216) (06/28/91)

It has been brought to my attention that some biologists might take offense
to the particular phrasing of my previous posting regarding ethology as
science.  My impression upon posting that message was that ethology was not
generally considered a scientific method amongst those studying biology (while
it does seem plausable to me).  My apologies to those who may have taken
offense at my posting.

I have been reading "Man and Wolf" (edited by H. Frank) and the foreword by
Michael W. Fox seems to imply a measure of controversy in the subject of the
objectivity of ethological methods.

The concept of ethology as a scientific practice is intriging to me, and I
simply want some professional opinions on the subject.  (Obviously the book
I have on the subject is either dated or biased)

P.S.  Many thanks to Dean Pentcheff

=========================================================
 - Geoffrey Heller
   gheller@yoda.eecs.wsu.edu
   WSU department of Computer Science
=========================================================